Kurdish flags and posters saying "Yes to referendum" adorn shops and walls in downtown Erbil. Photo: Rudaw/File
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has earmarked $6 million to be used by the Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC) in order to begin organizing to hold this year’s independence referendum.
The KRG’s finance ministry, as the first step has earmarked a sum of $6 million as mortgage for preparations for holding the Kurdish declared independence referendum on September 25, Handren Mohamed, the head of the IHERC, told Rudaw.
Mohammed added, for holding the referendum, parliamentary and presidential elections, they have asked the government to allocate 37 billion IQD (about $31 million). Of this amount, 20 billion is needed for the referendum and the other 17 billion is for the parliamentary and presidential elections.
The government has not yet approved the allocation of all the demanded sum, he noted.
Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to the Kurdish presidency, held a meeting with the IHERC and the KRG speaking on the necessities needed for the coming referendum and both parliamentary and presidency elections.
Jutiyar Adil, a member of the IHERC, told Rudaw he met with Hussein discussing their needs for referendum preparations.
President Masoud Barzani held a meeting with political parties in the Kurdistan Region on June 7 when it was announced the region would hold an independence referendum on September 25 that would also include "the Kurdistani areas outside the region's administration.” Additionally, following the referendum, presidential and parliamentary elections are to be scheduled on time, expected to be on November 6.
Representatives from the Electoral Commission had also attended the last week’s meeting led by President Barzani.
In March, the KRG announced the passage a $20 million budget to finance the anticipated elections.
Last updated at 3:35 p.m.
